Kevin Rudd Seeks to Win Over Voters With Emphasis on Averting Financial Crisis

SYDNEY—Prime Minister Kevin Rudd put Australia's economy at the heart of a campaign to avert a landslide election defeat for his ruling Labor Party, seeking to exploit growing voter anxiety about a fading mining boom that threatens extensive job losses.

The newly installed prime minister is hoping to remind voters of his role in steering the country through the global financial crisis without any sharp downturn. But the approach risks damaging fragile consumer and business confidence, as Australia's economy faces a...